Dec., '05] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 327 



Gracilaria belfrageclla Chambers. 

 Gracilaria coroniella Clem , vii, 15 

 Gracilaria elongella Lin me us, vii, 

 15, 1 8. 



Argvrcsihia goedertella Linmuus, 



viii, i. 



Tineola biselliella Hummel, vi, 26. 

 Tinea defectella Zeller, v, 25, 31. 



Gracilaria ncgnndclla Chambers, Tinea fuscipunctella Haw., vii, 15. 



XII, 2. 



Gracilaria alchiuiiella Scopoli, 



v, 24. 



Gracilaria burgessiella Zeller, var. 

 Tischeria citrinipennella Clemens, 



v, 13- 



Argyresthia andereggiella Dupon- 

 chel, vii, i, 15. 



Tinea granella Linnaeus, x, 17. 

 Tinea pellionella Linn., vii, 15, 18. 

 Ainadrya effrenatella Clem, vi, 26. 

 Adela purpura Walker, v. 4. 

 Pseudanaphora arcanella Clemens, 



vii, 6. 



Pseudanaphora niora Grote, x, n. 

 Ornix cratezgifoliella Clem., viii, 16 



Mimicry and Protective Coloration. 

 BY OWEN S. PAXSON, Devon, Pa. 



Having observed many instances of both in our common 

 insects, my theory is midway between Darwin's and that of 

 John Burroughs'. From observations around Devon I believe 

 that protective coloration and mimicry have not the importance 

 scientists have so generally ascribed to it, at least in the class 

 insecta and relatives. They are only of use to the individual 

 for long distances, comparatively speaking. 



Take for instance Vanessa antiopa ; if it is resting on the 

 trunk of a cherry tree eating the exuding sap, its form blends 

 perfectly with the bark. Now, if the insect remains motion- 

 less, it is utterly impossible to see the creature at a distance of 

 one hundred feet or more. Even if the distance were shortened 

 to twenty-five feet, I doubt if any person would see the insect. 

 With birds or other animals, probably depending on this insect 

 for food, it is different ; anyone would think that their eyesight 

 would be far keener than even those of the trained entomolo- 

 gist. They are alert and on the watch a great proportion of 

 time, therefore, this sense could not help being much more per- 

 fectly developed. Suppose that \\incssa were a solid scarlet 

 instead of its usual coloration, anybody and any animal could 

 detect it at a much greater distance. If the insect mimicked 

 nothing and was much sought after for food, look at its great 

 danger of utter extermination. Instead of being seen at a 

 comparatively short distance (twenty-five feet or even less), an 



